Robert Morgan, a licensed funeral director and embalmer, and his wife Heidi have started a new funeral service with a unique quality: it doesn’t have a building.

The owners hope the new business will fill a niche market, offering lower prices to customers. Using churches, clubs or other buildings, the funeral service will visit people for arrangements, visitations and services. The business will be based out of the Morgans' home in Casar.

“Basically, we are as full service as any other funeral home in the county, without the brick and mortar building,” said Morgan.

When meeting with a family, the Morgans have information about caskets and other funeral equipment for families to choose from.

Embalming and cremation services are available through a partnership with a local funeral home.

“We’ve contracted with a regular funeral home to use their prep room and we pay them on a case by case basis to do the embalming there,” said Morgan.

Morgan does the embalming. He has been licensed since 1996 as a funeral director and embalmer. He has many years of experience in funeral and cremation services and holds an associate degree in funeral science.

His wife Heidi is prepared for the office work associated with the funeral service. She holds degrees in human services and office technology.

'Able to do it economically'

Morgan said the idea of having visitations and services at churches and homes is nostalgic.

“It’s kind of a step back in history. Thirty years ago, most everybody took the body home for visitation," he said.

But it’s also a good option to have, Morgan said.

“It does save them a substantial amount of money,” he said. “We want to try to provide something that will be comfortable, respectful. And we want to do it where people will be able to do it economically.”

Another option the Morgans are working on is the ability to finance services so that people can pay them off over time.

“We’re working with a local company out of Charlotte to provide third-party financing,” said Morgan.

How are rates?

A beginning cremation service starts at $795, plus taxes.

“We are offering our traditional funeral packages, which include the casket, polyvinyl vault, everything you need for $3,995,” he said.

The only things not included are a grave plot and floral arrangements.

Although the prices are lower, the quality is still the same, Morgan said.

“We’re using the same vault and casket companies. It’s the same quality,” he said.

'It needs to be respectful'

The Morgans will also provide special services for service members through a Fallen Heroes Program.

“If we have any member of police, EMS, rescue squad or fire department, or an active-duty military member, we will provide goods and services at cost and not charge for actual services,” said Morgan. “They do a wonderful service for us.”

The Morgans say they don’t consider themselves competition to other existing funeral homes.

“We felt like we needed to offer these services,” Morgan said. “This is the last thing you can do for a person. It needs to be respectful.”